AchingBack
Veteran Member
Don't forget to add helmets, head restraints, knee pads, shoulder pads, chaps, face shields, gloves, etc. etc. etc.
a jock strap with a cup protector, and a partridge in a pear tree.
Why keep roll over bars down?
- Thread starter theg
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a jock strap with a cup protector, and a partridge in a pear tree.
Aquamoose
Platinum Member
Basically it boils down to who gets the blame (and loose money in the process). It's mostly the litigation mentality of this society that pretty much ruins it for all of us. The government basically says "yeah, Joe can sue Bob" rather than say "Tough luck Joe". I even have to put warnings on all my products just to cover myself from certain folks who has a cousin that spilled hot coffee on herself from McDonald's.
k0ua
Epic Contributor
My current tractor ROPS is up 100 percent of the time as it is supporting my steel canopy. I trim trees when needed. On my last tractor I utilized the folding feature of the ROPS as it was stored in a building that required it to be folded. Yes it can be a pain to have to stop each time to fold and unfold the ROPS, but it was something I just got used to doing. With my current "Kioti Den" building it has enough clearance I don't have to worry about it.
Manufacturers have nothing to do with it. The federal government, (OSHA), mandates the height of a ROPS.
It's so many inches, (I think 36" or so), above the highest point a set can be set at. This was determined through extensive testing.
It's not just there to protect in a rollover. They are made high enough, to help prevent the tractor from rolling. Including flipping over, backwards.
They are working on self deploying ROPS, (think spring or pneumatic driven), due to the numbers of accidents because operators are not putting the ROPS up.
Self deploying ROPS will likely add to the cost of a tractor. And, may require re-certification, or replacement, at some interval, which will add to operating costs, and, or, reduce resale value.
ovrszd
Epic Contributor
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- May 27, 2006
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- 32,245
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- Missouri
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- Kubota M9540, Ford 3910FWD, Ford 555A, JD2210
This has been discussed before. The height thing doesn't hold up under scrutiny. The height above my head on all three of my tractors is different. The largest tractor being the shortest. On a side roll it would likely end on it's top or go right on over to opposite side or wheels. Least likely to do such would be the little JD.
burzynsr
Gold Member
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- Jun 9, 2010
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- Grimes county Texas
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- Mahindra 4025 / Kubota RTV500 / Bad Boy ZT Elite 60"
Originally Posted by ovrszd
This has been discussed before. The height thing doesn't hold up under scrutiny. The height above my head on all three of my tractors is different. The largest tractor being the shortest. On a side roll it would likely end on it's top or go right on over to opposite side or wheels. Least likely to do such would be the little JD.
Last time I checked the ROPS was supposed to protect the operator no matter what position the tractor ends up. I would rather have a ROPS up and roll completely from upright back to upright than have no ROPS and roll only 90 degrees. Who cares how far the tractor rolls. The whole idea is to keep a human alive. No matter if they are brilliant or stupid.
This has been discussed before. The height thing doesn't hold up under scrutiny. The height above my head on all three of my tractors is different. The largest tractor being the shortest. On a side roll it would likely end on it's top or go right on over to opposite side or wheels. Least likely to do such would be the little JD.
Last time I checked the ROPS was supposed to protect the operator no matter what position the tractor ends up. I would rather have a ROPS up and roll completely from upright back to upright than have no ROPS and roll only 90 degrees. Who cares how far the tractor rolls. The whole idea is to keep a human alive. No matter if they are brilliant or stupid.
ovrszd
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- May 27, 2006
- Messages
- 32,245
- Location
- Missouri
- Tractor
- Kubota M9540, Ford 3910FWD, Ford 555A, JD2210
Not sure why my comment made anyone believe I don't understand the intention of rops.
My point is/was on my Kubota there is no way the rops is tall enough to limit the severity of the roll. And if you draw a straight line from the top of the rops to the top of the hood it becomes obvious there is no room for a driver inside the triangle safely.
I'll dig thru my pics and try to find a side shot of each of my tractors. You can then form your own opinions about the effectiveness of each.
My point is/was on my Kubota there is no way the rops is tall enough to limit the severity of the roll. And if you draw a straight line from the top of the rops to the top of the hood it becomes obvious there is no room for a driver inside the triangle safely.
I'll dig thru my pics and try to find a side shot of each of my tractors. You can then form your own opinions about the effectiveness of each.
DavesTractor
Elite Member
Not sure why my comment made anyone believe I don't understand the intention of rops.
My point is/was on my Kubota there is no way the rops is tall enough to limit the severity of the roll. And if you draw a straight line from the top of the rops to the top of the hood it becomes obvious there is no room for a driver inside the triangle safely.
I'll dig thru my pics and try to find a side shot of each of my tractors. You can then form your own opinions about the effectiveness of each.
We find that different manufacturers interpret the regs differently. On average, it seems the Japanese built Mahindra tractors have shorter ROPS relative to similar size Korean built Mahindra tractors. Not sure if that holds true across the board.
We know of a handful of rolled tractors, not including the fatal I mentioned above. On a late model tractor with a loader and ROPS, a side roll often happens when an operator has the bucket loaded and up in the air too high and is on a bit of a side hill and then turns. On the rolls with which I am familiar, they have all gone just 90 degrees. The ROPS and the loader arresting the roll at that point.
